The BEST episodes of History Channel Documentaries season 2001

#1 - The Korean War In Colour

Season 2001 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/1/2001

The first exploration in colour of the Korean War, this programme allows you to experience the terror, courage, blood and chaos that was everyday life for the soldiers and civilians in Korea. De-classified footage, personal films and photographs of veterans are all used to demonstrate the suffering and heroism both sides experienced.

#2 - Secret Societies

Season 2001 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/2001

#3 - A Short History of Ireland

Season 2001 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/17/2001

Based on the book by the same name, this lyrical treatment of Irish history is revealed through stunning photography of its lush countryside and reenactments of historic events--from the ancient Celts to the Williamite War, and onto the bloody Easter Rising and the life of the revolutionary Michael Collins. This episode aired on the History Channel as a preview for the History International channel.

#4 - Unsung Heroes Of The B-29's

Season 2001 - Episode 24 - Aired 9/1/2004

The B-29 bomber, which saw action almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater during World War II, represented a giant leap forward technologically from the B-17s and B-24s that flew over Europe. And while the crews of these older bombers won fame for their exploits, the B-29 flyers didn't enjoy the same accolades, for the public perception was that their seemingly perfect planes allowed them to perform their missions with impunity. As UNSUNG HEROES OF THE B-29s reveals, the truth was far more complicated,. The perfect missions from high above Japanese defenses were balanced by scores of dead-low bombing runs without guns into the face of determined kamikaze defenses. Captured crews suffered horribly in Japanese prison camps. And the rush to develop the B-29 claimed scores of lives in hurry-up testing, where design and manufacturing flaws were paid for in blood before the plane even entered active service. UNSUNG HEROES OF THE B-29 also includes a blow-by-blow account of the mission to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima from Paul Tibbets, the pilot.

#5 - Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor

Season 2001 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/27/2001

Documentary of the little-known Americans who defended Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

#6 - Special Ops: Mike Force

Season 2001 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/7/2001

Commanded and trained by Green Berets, the Mobile Strike Force, also known as "Mike Force," was a roving SWAT team on call to rescue platoons and camps under attack during the Vietnam War. The Mike Force was assigned the perilous mission of rushing into situations in which the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong had already established substantial battle advantages. Made up primarily of indigenous forces, the Mike Force was often the difference between life and death for soldiers, civilians and cities that would have otherwise been lost as casualties of war.

#7 - Special Ops: Silent Heroes: LRRPS

Season 2001 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/8/2001

During the Vietnam War, stealth, bravery and commitment to duty were attributes of the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRPS) -- the "men with painted faces." Taking risks far beyond conventional units and going deep behind enemy lines, LRRPS sacrificed manpower for stealth, serving as the eyes and ears of their units while on some of the most hazardous patrols in U.S. military history.

#8 - Special Ops: Operation Desrt Storm

Season 2001 - Episode 28 - Aired 5/9/2001

From the beginning of the Persian Gulf War, the United States not only had greater technological advantages but had superior special operations teams. Navy SEALS, Green Berets and Army Rangers covertly gathered intelligence and performed numerous duties during the war. From SCUD-hunting to combat search and rescue, the program tells the story of the special operations units and their activities and adventures in the Gulf War.

#9 - Special Ops: Recondo School

Season 2001 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/10/2001

Documentary about the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Recondo School, where volunteers received on-the-job education that was all too real. Recondo School was established by the Green Berets during the Vietnam war to train recruits for special operations. The program reveals what it took to survive the school, what kind of men volunteered and how their education gave them the skills to survive long-range patrol missions in the jungles of Vietnam.

#10 - A Complete History of the Green Berets

Season 2001 - Episode 30 - Aired 3/25/2001

From World War II through Vietnam to the present, the Green Berets rank among the elite of the Special Operations Forces of the world. The program explores the history and traditions of this group of soldiers: who they are, where they came from, what they do and how they perform missions impossible for conventional units.

#11 - The Unfinished Civil War

Season 2001 - Episode 31 - Aired 2/19/2001

Over 140 years have passed since the end of the Civil War. But for many people, the war still rages. For some, it lives on because their ancestors fought or were enslaved. For others it lives on when they re-enact epic battles. Still others march carrying banners and flags of defiance. Here is the complete story of the war that is still happening almost a century and a half later.

#12 - As It Happened - Berlin Airlift: The First Battle of the Cold War

Season 2001 - Episode 32 - Aired 8/20/2001

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, this documentary looks back on an uneasy time in world history. This first "battle" of the cold war started with the Soviet blockade of Berlin, a move to force the Western Allied powers to abandon thier post World War II control of West Berlin. The Soviet blockade included all rail, road and water communications. On June 26, 1948, the United States and Britian began a year-long effort, documented here, to supply West Berlin by air. By July, the Soviet army had increased into 40 divisions - against eight for the West. The blockade ended on May 12, 1949. This is the story of the blockade, told by those involved. They describe the enormous logistical effort to transport some 2.3 million tons of food, fuel and equipment -- a battle the Western powers won. And when it was over, the former Allies formed NATO, the Soviets created the Warsaw Pact, and the Cold War grew even colder.

#13 - High Rollers: A History Of Gambling in America

Season 2001 - Episode 34 - Aired 8/20/2001

From Mississippi riverboats to poker to Powerball, this is the history of gambling in America. It was once considered a vice. Now, it is legal in one form or another in 48 states. Many states themselves sponsor it with lotteries, Powerball jackpots and scratch-to-win cards. But the essential truth about gambling remains the same--there are always more losers than winners. Americans have always been willing to risk all for the big payoff. HIGH ROLLERS shows how the 1895 invention of the slot machine changed gambling forever, and how time-honored, once-legitimate activities such as horse racing, three-card monte, and poker and casino games went underworld. Examine the tension between our love of games of chance and our moralizing prohibitions, from the era of Mississippi riverboat gambling to the Wild West, where Wild Bill Hickok was killed during a poker game. Travel to Las Vegas, the town that sold its soul to create a high-stakes gambling extravaganza. And get an intimate look at the growth of the latest trend--Native American run casinos that have changed the face of gambling. From smoke filled rooms to "family entertainment," this is an eye-opening look at how we choose to lose, and hope to win.

#14 - Vietnam: On The Frontlines

Season 2001 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/4/2001

The Vietnam War claimed millions of lives and divided America.